Fluid delivery adapter unit for endoscope

Abstract

A fluid delivery adapter unit for selectively connecting fluid supply equipments to an endoscope that includes a straight pipe capable of being detachably coupled to a fluid inlet collet of a headpiece of the endoscope and a generally L-shaped elbow pipe having a LUER-LOK® lock component at a proximal end to which the fluid supply equipment is coupled. A joining structure is installed between the elbow pipe and the straight pipe so as to allow the elbow pipe and the straight pipe to turn through a predetermined angle relative to each other only when the elbow pipe is forced to turn and further to keep them in a turned position while the elbow pipe is unforced. The joining structure includes an elastic sealing member to provide fluid tight seal between the elbow pipe and the straight pipe.

1. A fluid delivery adapter unit for selectively connecting fluid supply equipments to an endoscope comprising an operating headpiece, an elongated insertion tube extending from the operating headpiece, and fluid delivery passage means which extends from fluid inlet means which opens to the atmosphere at a proximal end of the operating headpiece and to fluid outlet means at a distal end of the elongated insertion tube and to which a fluid supply equipment is connected through the fluid inlet means so as to deliver fluid supplied from the fluid supply equipment to the fluid outlet means, said fluid delivery adapter unit comprising:
 a straight pipe having a first end being detachably coupled to said fluid inlet means; 
 an elbow pipe having a lock component at a proximal end to which said fluid supply equipment is matingly coupled; and 
 joining means for joining said elbow pipe to an opposing second end of said straight pipe so as to allow said elbow pipe to turn with respect to said straight pipe only when said elbow pipe is forced to turn and to keep said elbow pipe in a turned position with respect to said straight pipe while said elbow pipe is unforced and restricting the turning of the elbow pipe with respect to the straight pipe to a predetermined angular range, such that the elbow pipe can be adjusted to a rest position having any angular position with respect to the straight pipe within the predetermined range, 
 wherein said elbow pipe comprises elastic sealing means disposed on a portion of said elbow pipe inserted in said straight pipe and compressed between said elbow pipe and said straight pipe so as to provide fluid tight seal between said straight pipe and said elbow pipe while said joining means allows said elbow pipe to turn with respect to said straight pipe against frictional force of said elastic sealing means. 
 
   
   
     2. A fluid delivery adapter unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said joining means prevents said elbow pipe from moving in an axial direction. 
   
   
     3. A fluid delivery adapter unit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said elbow pipe is bent at an angle of approximately 90°. 
   
   
     4. A fluid delivery adapter unit for selectively connecting fluid supply equipments to an endoscope comprising an operating headpiece, an elongated insertion tube extending from the operating headpiece, and fluid delivery passage means which extends from fluid inlet means which opens to the atmosphere at a proximal end of the operating headpiece and to fluid outlet means at a distal end of the elongated insertion tube and to which a fluid supply equipment is connected through the fluid inlet means so as to deliver fluid supplied from the fluid supply equipment to the fluid outlet means, said fluid delivery adapter unit comprising:
 a straight pipe capable of being detachably coupled to said fluid inlet means; 
 an elbow pipe having a lock component at a proximal end to which said fluid supply equipment is matingly coupled; and 
 joining means for joining said elbow pipe to said straight pipe so as to allow said elbow pipe to turn with respect to said straight pipe only when said elbow pipe is forced to turn and to keep said elbow pipe in a turned position with respect to said straight pipe while said elbow pipe is unforced, the joining means restricting the turning of the elbow pipe with respect to the straight pipe to a predetermined angular range, such that the elbow pipe can be adjusted to a rest position having any angular position with respect to the straight pipe within the predetermined range, 
 wherein the joining means comprises a pair of elliptical holes in the straight pipe and a corresponding pair of cylindrical latch hooks extending outward from an exterior of the elbow pipe so that, when assembled, the cylindrical latch hooks pass through respective ones of the elliptical holes. 
 
   
   
     5. The fluid delivery adapter unit of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined angular range of respective displacement between the straight pipe and the elbow pipe is defined by a range of motion of the cylindrical latch hooks within the elliptical holes. 
   
   
     6. A fluid delivery adapter unit for selectively connecting fluid supply equipment to an endoscope, the endoscope comprising an operating headpiece, an elongated insertion tube extending from the operating headpiece, and fluid delivery passage which extends from a fluid inlet, which opens to atmosphere at a proximal end of the operating headpiece and to a fluid outlet at a distal end of the elongated insertion tube and to which the fluid supply equipment is connected through the fluid inlet so as to deliver fluid supplied from the fluid supply equipment to the fluid outlet, said fluid delivery adapter unit comprising:
 a straight pipe having a first end that is detachably coupled to said fluid inlet; 
 an elbow pipe having a lock component at a proximal end to which said fluid supply equipment is coupled; and 
 a coupling device for joining said elbow pipe to an opposing second end of said straight pipe so as to allow said elbow pipe to turn with respect to said straight pipe through a predetermined angular range, such that the elbow pipe can be adjusted to a rest position having any angular position with respect to the straight pipe within the predetermined range, said coupling device including a first connection member having a first connection part on said elbow pipe, and a second connection member on said straight pipe having a second connection part that interlocks with said first connection part.